On the heels of a performance where he recovered two touchdown-saving fumbles, Arkansas Tech junior defensive back DeAndre’ Bonner was named Great American Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the league office announced.

A day later, ATU Golden Suns junior setter Amber Cerrillos was named GAC volleyball Setter of the Week, and senior outside hitter Carly Florian was named Offensive Player of the Week by the league office Tuesday.

Bonner recovered his first fumble in the third quarter, and saved his most key recovery for the final seconds of the game, when he recovered a loose ball that stopped a UAM drive at the 1 and gave the Wonder Boys possession with 15 seconds remaining in the contest.

Bonner is the third ATU player to earn Defensive Player of the Week honors, joining Trevor Pinkston, who earned special teams honors in the first week of the season; and Tanner Marsh, who earned offensive player of the week honors last week.

The Wonder Boys kick off at 2 p.m. Saturday against the 19th-ranked Harding Bisons in Searcy.

Cerrillos claimed her second Setter of the Week award — and seventh over the past two years — as the Golden Suns picked up two GAC wins. In a contest between schools that entered undefeated in GAC play, she registered a double-double against Southern Arkansas, after she dished out 35 assists and collected 10 digs. She set a GAC three-set record for assists when she totaled 48 against Northwestern Oklahoma State.

Florian won her second Offensive Player of the Week this season after she led all GAC players in kills and points per set over the past week. She averaged 4.43 kills and 4.79 points per set as the Golden Suns beat Southern Arkansas and Northwestern Oklahoma State. She hit .299 for the week, including a .452 mark against the Rangers.

Wonder Boys basketball begins practice

The Arkansas Tech men’s basketball team started practice last week for the 2012-13 season. Last season, the Wonder Boys went 26-6 overall and 13-3 in conference play. Coach Doug Karleskint is entering his third season as the Wonder Boys head coach and has led Tech to back-to-back seasons of 25-plus wins, including a Great American Conference championship last season.

“The team brought a lot of energy to the first week of practice,” Karleskint said. “There is good competition at both the post and guard spots, which brings out the best in each player. We are coming to work every day to get better.”

This year’s team brings back nine returners from last season. Senior Jared Williamson of Russellville comes back as a strong leader for the team and is “doing a good job coaching the new guys,” Karleskint said.

Williamson averaged just over 12 points per game last season and shot .417 from behind the 3-point line.

Sophomore Nick Wayman has been set back with a knee injury this week. “Unfortunately, it’s part of the game. This gives the other guys a chance to step up in practice,” the coach pointed out.

The team expects big things from Paul Cooper and Jeff Reese this season, both of whom sat out last year. Karleskint said he looks forward to “having them play with the team and see their leadership impact the season.”

The Wonder Boys open at 7 p.m. Nov. 15 against Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla.